Radiator



I Dec. 1,1925. 1,563,543

E. F. AN DR EWS RADIATOR Filed Oct. 9, 1918 3 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATE m. OFFICE.

EDWARD F. ANDREWS; OF CHICAGO," ILLINOIS.

RADIATOR...

Application filed October 9,!9i8; Serial no. 257,445.

ful Improvements in Radiators, of which a the following is a specification.

-. radiators not .to disturb or alter the stream-line effect of the aeroplane, and, further, one which,

This invention relates to improvements inor condensers, and more particularly to radiators adapted for use in connection with the cooling systems of aeroplane engines. I

One object of the invention is to provide a radiator or condenser of the type described, which shall be designed primaril to reduce to a minimum the resistance 0 fered by the same to passage through the air, or, in other words, one which will minimize head resistance; and, further, to provide a radiator which will, provide a maximum amount of cooling or radiating surface in proportion to its head resistance and its volumetric displacement.

Another object of the invention resides 'in the provision of an aeroplane radiator which may be installed in Such manner as owing to its peculiar construction, shall be, readily adaptable to the contour of the fuselage, or other part of the machine on which it may be found most desirable or advantageous to mount the same, thereby overcom-j ing the diliiculties and disadvantages which must be encountered at the present time in aeroplane designing, owing to the constructions of the radiators thereof and the manner in which they must necessarily, be mounted in order to function efficiently and properly. I i

A further object of the invention isto provide an aeroplane radiator which will permit of the aeroplanes to which the same is applied being "constructed more strictly in accordance with aerodynamic principles, or, in other words, one which wil unit of a. more perfect stream-lining o aeroplane bodies. M p

Another object of the present invention is to provide a radiator or condenser where n the number of joints is reduced to a m1n1- mum, and one which shall be light in weight, strong, durable, rigid, and extremely simple in construction, and one which lends itself readily to economical manufacture. Other objects and advantages .will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein two embodiments of the invention are illustrated. In the drawin Figure 1 isa top plan view, partly broken away, of a radiator constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; I A i Fig;- .3' Fig. 2; r

Fig. 4 is'a side'elevation of an aero lane oiistream-line design, the improved ra iator be ng shownmoun in position thereon and connected with the cooling system of the power plant thereof;

Fig. v5 is a front elevation of a fuselage of slightly difi'erentdesign from the one shown in Fig. 4, illustrating one of the present improved radiator units mounted on ,eachside thereof;

Fig. 6 is a' sectional view of a modified form of, radiator;

Fig. 7 is ,a section on the line 66 of Fig. 5; s

8 is a section on the line 77 of I F ilg. 6;

ig.'9 is. a. sectional'view, modification shown in in the construction of a steam radiator;

Fig. 10 is a rear view partly in section and partly in elevation of a further modification of the invention;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 10, and

Fig. 12 is a top illustrating the Referring more in detail to the drawings, the radiator is shown stantially only'two plates 10 an 11, preferably formed of metal, the lower or base plate 10 being substantially flat in design, except at its outer edges, where said plate is rolled or bent upon itselflto form inlet and outlet headers 12 and 13, res ectively. It is clear, however, that the bee any convenient manner to the base plate. The upper plate 11 is referably crimped or bent transversely, as- Fig. 2 of the drawings, to rovide. a plurality of thin, flat, longitudina y dispose radiating chambers 14, the end walls of which are preferably formed by pinching or welding" together the adjacent edges, as shown at 14,

Figs. 6 and-K as usedplan view of tIieem bodiment. shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

own more clearly inis a section on the line of I as com rising subersma if desired, be madeseparate, and secured in said plate 11 being secured to the upper surface of the base plate 10, preferably by means of spot welding, it being preferred to distribute the welds at intervals along the con- I tact-ing portions of the plates between the around the margins of the upper bent or cooling or radiatin 'radiatin crirnped plate 11. In addition to welding the outer margins of the plate 11 to the plate 10, said plate 11 may also be secured thereto along its outer margins by brazing, or by means of solder, or any other suitable means which will not only serve to unite the two plates, but which will also serve as a sealing means whereby leakage is prevented. As a means of maintaining the thin, flat radiating cham bers 14 properly disposed relative to the plate 10, and also properly spaced apart, suitable straps 16, preferably of metal, may be employed which pass over and contact with the upper edge of each of said chambers, theopposite ends of said straps being securely fastened in any suitable manner to the base plate 10, substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. lhese straps not only maintain the radiating chambers in their proper positions relative to the plate 10 and to each other, but also provide means whereby the radiating unit as a whole is made more rigid, strong. and durable.

As will be noted from the drawings, the headers 12 and 13 are preferably disposed transversely with relation to the chambers 14, and accordingly each of said headers underlies all of said chambers. Suitable slots 17 are provided in the base plate 10, preferably immediately above the headers 12 and 13, said slots being designed to pro vide a communication-between said headers and the interior of the radiating chambers 14, and accordingly are disposed in registry with said chambers, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that upon the admission of water, or other fluid under pressure, into the inlet header 12, said fluid will be forced through the apertures or slots 17 into each of the chambers 14, whereupon it will be cause to flow through said chambers and into the outlet header 13. It will also be noted from the foregoing that a radiatin unit extremely light in weight, strong, rigi and durable has been provided, and, furthermore, one wherein a maximum amount of surface is provided in proportion to the v0 umetric displacement of the entire unit, and also in proportion to its cubical content.

In Fig. 40f the drawings an aeroplane having a fuselage or body 18 of stream-line design is illustrated. The power plant or internal combustion engine of the machine meaaaa face of the fuselage, is shown the radiator,

the outlet header 13 thereof being connected to the pump line 21, while the inlet header 12 is connecteddirectly with the water jacket 22 of the engine. The cooling system is provided with the usual filling pipe 23, which preferably contains a vent pipe (not shown) for the purpose of permitting steam and air which may accumulate in the system to escape. As clearly shown in Fig. 4, the radiating unitis curved so as to exactly fit the contour of the fuselage, or, in other words, so as not to disturb or alter the stream-line efl'ect thereof. This curving of the radiator is readily accomplished by merely curving the base plate 10 thereof to conform to the contour of the fuselage. The curving of the plate 10 may be accomplished in a number of different ways depending upon the nature of the contour of the fuselage to be fitted. For instance, a slight, simple cylindrical curve might be imparted to the unit by hand or by curving the plate 10 by a simple rolling operation prior to securing the crimped or bent plate 11 thereon. If, on the other hand, however, it is desired to fit a fuselage which is curved in two directions, longitudinally as well as transversely, suitable dies may be used for imparting the proper contour to the unit. It is preferred to mount the radiator in such wise that the top surface of the base plate thereof will lie in substantially the same plane with the outer surface of the fuselage, the headers 12 and 13 being disposed within the fuselage, as shown in dotted lines. This, as will be readily observed, permits of the thin, flat radiating chambers 14 extending the same distance above the outer surface of the fuselage that said chambers extend above the plate 10. As above described, the straps 16 serve to hold the chambers or thin, fiat tubes rigidly disposed.

The bending or folding of the plate 11 I not only forms the thin. flat radiating tubes 14, but also provides intervening air passages 24 open at both ends, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Accordingly,it will be readily observed that upon forward motion of the aeroplane air will pass rapidly through the passages 24, thereby exerting a marked cooling effect upon the water or other fluid passing through the chambers 14 from the inlet header thereof to the outlet header. As will be noted by referring to Fig. 4, the radiating unit is preferably 'mounted in such wise that the outlet header thereof is disposed in a plane slightly above that of the inlet header, the direction of flow being as indicated by the arrow. In other words, the flow of the fluid top of the engine, I

within the radiator is directly opposite to that of the air passing through the passages interposed between the radiating chambers thereof. While the radiator in Fig. 4 has been shown mounted below the engine 19,.it-

- on one or the other of the planes of the machine, if preferred. It is also-to be noted that more than one radiating unit may be provided for the cooling system, if found necessary ordesirable, or that the unit might be made of sufficient size and designed to completely encompass the fuselage adjacent the engine in the form of a band.

It is preferred to mount the radiator nnit so that the same will be inclined slightly upwardly towards the noseof the mechanism this manner a larger' as shown in Fig. 4. In current of the air stream is intercepted than would be if the unit was mounted horizontally and accordingly the cooling effective ness of the. unit is increased. In other words, with the mounting shown fresh air impinges upon the unit' andis forced between the cooling fins at substantially'all points throughout the length of'said unit, whereas in a horizontal mounting only the air intercepted by the front or nose of the unit would be utilized.

In Figures 6, 7. 8 and 9 of the drawings a slightly modified form of the invention is illustrated. The radiator in these formsis shown as comprising .twoplates 26. each of i I when the two which is preferably bent or curved to form thin, fiat radiating chambers 27 and intervening air passages 28. These plates 26 are also secured together, of spot welding. their contacting the radiating chambers 27 of each ofsaid plates ali ne and communicate with each other, as shown .more clearly in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The end walls of the chambers 27 in this are also preferably formed by pinching or welding together 'the adjacent edges, as shown more clearly at 28, said edges in this form, however, being secured together in such 'manner as to provide a plurality of slots 29, one disposed at each end of each of the alining'pa'irs of chambers. These slots, it will be noted by referring to Fig. 7 of the drawings, are formed by terminating. the end walls of the radiating chambers of each of the plates, short of the contacting areas thereof. It will be accordingly noted that bent or crimped plates are secured together in the manner'above pointed out. two slots will be provided for each of the radiating chambers, one at each end of disposed at intervals along passage provided by the slots 32 tion, It is preferred preferably by meansareas. and in such wise thatmodification ofthe invention 3 vided with a plurality of slots 32 designed,

when Said headers are in position, to aline or reglster with the slots 29 formed in the end walls of the radlatlng chambers 27.

the inlet header, and the other as the outlet header for the radiator.

It will be readily observed from the foregoing that any fiuid admitted under pressure into either one or the" other of the headers previously described will flow through the and 29 into the oppositely directed radiating chambers 27 provided in the crimped from thence out through the tered slots 32 and 29 into the other header. This modified form of radiating unit is also designed primarily for use in connection with-the cooling systems of aeroplanes, although, as in the preferred embodiment, it is obvious that it is of much broader adaptato mount the unit, when thesame is used in connection with aeroplanes, in an upright position at some convenient place .on the or the other of the planes, with the header 30 pointing into the wind. It will be apparent that when so mounted the radiating chambers 27 of the radiatorwill be disposed in substantially horizontal parallel planes. and that the air passages 28 will be disposed within the stream-line and substantially pan allel thereto, and as said at both ends the stream will be free to pass unobstructed therethrough and around the radiating chamb rs, thereby tending to cool the fluid passing therethrough.

As a means of stream-lining the radiator, suitable deflector plates 33 are mounted immediately behind thc'front header 30 in the air passages 28, and deflector plates 34. of slightly different design, are disposed immediately in front of the rear header3l in the air passages 28. vided with a'tapered element 35 projecting to the rear thereof,-in such wise as to guide' the foregoing that the radiator shown in -Figs. 5 and 6 may be mounted on the fuselaeroplane in such manner that 30 and 31 thereof will be disage of an the headers passages are open -Either one of these headers may be used as I plates 26, and opposite regisfuselage, or on one The rear header is pro posed substantially horizontally and the radiating chambers vertically, as distinguished from a mounting of said radiator with the headers disposed vertically and the radiating chambers horizontally, as above described. This modified form of radiator may be connected to the water jacket of the engine of the aeroplane in any manner, it being preferred, however, to connect the same thereto. by suitable pipe lines leading to and from the headers of the radiator in much the same manner as described in connection with the preferred form.

In Fig. 9 of the drawings a radiating unit, constructed substantially in accordance with the design illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, is shown, adapted for use as a steam radiator. When used in such a connection only one header 36, at the base thereof, need be provided, as will be apparent. The unit in this adaptation of the invention may be mounted on a suitable standard 37, in such wise that the alining radiating chambers 27 thereof are disposed uprightly,-as is common in the construct on of heat radiators of this type. The header 36 is provided with a suitable inlet pipe 38. from which the steam is admitted to the radiating chambers 27 through the slots 32 and 29. previously described. A suitable outlet pipe is shown at 39.

As stated above, the construction herein described as primarily designed for use in connection with the cooling systems of aeroplanes is of much broader adaptation,

and accordingly it is not desired to limit the invention to the specific construction or use herein illustrated and described. For instance. in addition to the adaptability of the invention to cooling systems of all kinds. and to radiators of the heating type. as well as to condensers. itisalso within the contemplation of the present improvements to adapt the same for use in connection with steam and hot water boilers. and to evaporators. In adapting the construction for use iniconnection with steam and hot water boilers, it would merely be necessary, to provide the boiler with thin flat water tubes of the type herein described. and position said tubes in such wise that the fire or products of combustion from the boiler would pass thflough the passages interposed between said tu es.

In Figs. 10, 11 and 12 is illustrated another embodiment of the present invention. In these figures the radiator is shown as comprising atank or reservoir 40, the front wall 41 of which is bent or corrugated to provide a plurality of preferably vertically disposed cooling fins 42 and intervening air passages-43, said wall or plate 41 being preferably formed and constructed in the same manner as the plate 11 of the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1. The front wall 41 is preferably Jnstructed from a separate tively of the reservoir, as shown more clearly at 47 in Fig. 11, and further by similarly uniting the outwardly flanged ends 48 of the plate 41 to the side walls 49 of said reservoir, as shown more clearly at 50 in Fig. 12. The top and bottom walls 45, 46 of the tank or reservoir 40 preferably overlap the edges of the fins 42 of the plate 41 only a slight distance, sufficient to permit of said edges being secured thereto in such wise as to rigidly maintain said plate in position. It is preferred, however, to extend the side walls 49 of the reservoir outwardly as far as the fins 42 project and to then bend said side walls down over the outer edges of said fins. the ends of said walls being then seamed together as at 51 or securely fastened in any other suitable manner. In this manner a strong, rigid and durable unit is provided and the fins are protected and held in their proper spaced relation. After the side extensions have thus been secured around the corrugated plate 41, the side edges 52 of the portions of said side extensions, which overlie the outer edges of the fins, are flanged downwardly so as to overlapthe' pinchedtogether edges of said fins a distance substantially equal to the overlapping of said edges by the top and bottom walls 45, 46 of said reservoir. This further strengthens the unit and imparts additional rigidity thereto.

It will be noted from the above construction that the corrugated plate or front wall 41 of the radiator is completely housed and protected except for the slots 53, 54 which its extend uninterruptedly from one side of the unit to the other. one across the top thereof and the other across the bottom, said slots. as will be readily observed. being formed by cutting short the top and bottom walls 45. 46 of the reservoir and the flanges 52 of the side extensions 49. It will be noted thatthese slots arranged as just described provide means whereby air may enter the passages provided between the cooling fins. circulate freely therethrough. and then discharge, thereby exerting a marked cooling effect upon the liquid circulating through said fins. It is to be understood. of course. that the fins 42 open into the reservoir 40' and have free communication therewith so that the water or other liquid to be cooled which passes into said reservoir may circulate freely into and through said fins. By reason ofthis construction it will be noted that no headers such as shown in the other embodiments, need be provided. An inlet for the radiator which may be of any preferred type is shown at 55, and at56 the outlet thereof is shown. 57 represents the filling spout, and is shown covered with the usual cap 58, which is preferably vented as i at 59.

While this embodiment of the invention is also adaptable to aeroplane construction, it has also beenfound well adapted for use in connection with isolated electric generating plants of the type in which a small electric generator is driven by nr'eans of an internal combustion engine coupled directly thereto, for the purpose of supplying power to lamps or other electric devices. \Vhen used in this connection the radiator may be coupled in the. cooling system of the 1nternal combustion engine, and mounted at some convenient point about the fan, so thatwhen the plant is operated a draft of air is forced upwardly through the slot 54, through the passages 43, and out through the slot 53 at the top of the unit.

It is, of course, obvious that the radiator shown in these figures may, if desired, be constructed without the side extensions which are shown'secured around the cooling tins. thus leaving said fins entirely exposed, as in the embodiments illustrated in the other figures. (Furthermore, it is apparent that the radiator may be mounted in a horizontal position, or at an angle, as well as in a vertical position, as shown, without necessitating any change or alteration, excepting a possible rearrangement of the inlet and outlet. It is also obvious that this form of radiator, as well as those disclosed in the other figures of the drawings, may be used in connection with cooling systems of either the thermo-siphon or force feed types.

As the various forms of the invention herein illustrated are susceptible to many changes and modifications, it is not desired nor intended to limit or restrict the invention, except where limitations appear in the appended claims.

Vhat I claim is:

1. A radiator comprising a thin sheet of flat material bent back upon itself at its end to provide a header, and'a second sheet of material secured to said first-named sheet and being folded or corrugated to provide a series of fluid passages adjacent said firstnamed sheet, said first-named sheet being provided with apertures which form communications between said header and said passages.

2. The combination with an aeroplane, of a radiator for the power plant thereof mounted on said aeroplane, said radiator comprising front and rear headers, a plurality of cooling fins connecting the same and projecting outwardly therefrom and deflectors of stream line design attached to said headers for reducing the head resistance of said radiator.

In a radiator, a plurality of plates each I have subscribed EDWARD F. ANDREWS.

corrugated to provide alternate radiating 

